The Scientific Revolution and the Emergence of Modern Science
Big Ideas
Many of the causes of the Scientific Revolution originated from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. During the Renaissance, when humanists had mastered Greek and Latin, new works of the ancient philosophers were made available. These new writings made it apparent that even those philosophers had been contradicted by other thinkers. This caused people to want to discover the truth about certain theories/observations, so they began stimulating their own scientific work. Renaissance artists also made an impact on scientific study with their fascination and observation of nature and other natural phenomena such as the human body. Also, mathematics, which was seen as the key to understanding the nature of things, was a central cause as it enabled thinkers to want to learn more about the universe.
There were several discoveries made during the 17th cent. that contributed greatly to the Scientific Revolution. Copernicus's discovery of a heliocentric universe led to further discoveries about the universe. For example, Kepler formed his laws of planetary motion, which stated that the orbits of the planets were elliptical, rather than circular, with the sun at one focus of the ellipse, rather than at the center. Also, Galileo was inspired by these discoveries and consequently constructed the first telescope used to study the skies. As a result, Galileo confirmed Copernicus's claims of a heliocentric system through his own data.
Principia is a work in three books by Sir Isaac Newton, first published in 1687. In the book, Newton presented his laws of motion, formed the foundation of classical mechanics, and his law of universal gravitation, essentially providing a revolutionary turn to science of the time, and putting in the major groundwork of physics. Newton had demonstrated that one universal law mathematically proved could explain all motion in the universe, from the movements of the planets to an apple falling from a tree. Newton's laws of physics are still taught today in modern physics and truly are the foundation of this branch of science.
The fundamentally new conception of the universe contained in the Scientific Revolution inevitably had an impact on the view of humankind. Descartes, for example, with his emphasis on the separation of mind and matter, led Westerners to equate their identity with mind and reason rather than with the whole organism. Using mind or human reason, the path to certain knowledge, and its best instrument, mathematics, humans can understand the material world because it is pure mechanism, a machine that is governed by its own physical laws because it was created by God.
Essential Questions
What were the central causes of the Scientific Revolution?
What did the new discoveries in 17th cent. astronomy contribute to the Scientific Revolution?
How did Isaac Newton's Principia affect science in its time and in contemporary times?
How did new scientific discoveries affect the 17th century's image of man?
Primary Sources
Written http://www.historyteacher.net/APEuroCourse/DocPackets/DocPkt-ScientificRevolution-2.pdfDocument 3 Sir Isaac Newton, “Principles of Analysis,” from Optics, 1704
This document, written by Newton, demonstrates his belief in a higher power. In other words, it shows that he most definitely believed in God, not at all losing his faith in religion. Moreover, this document proves that many of the great thinkers, philosophers, and scientists of the time who made incredible discoveries about the universe continued their religious practices, although it is often thought otherwise since during this time the Catholic Church sought to debunk many of these men's discoveries and claims, as they did not line up with the Church's interpretation of the Bible and its overall beliefs about the universe.
Visualhttp://historiesofcatastrophicdreaming.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/copernican-universe.jpg On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres, 1543
The Copernican system was presented in On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres, published shortly before Copernicus's death. As shown in this image from the book, Copernicus maintained that the sun was the center of the universe and that the planets, including the earth, revolved around it. Moreover, the earth rotated daily on its axis. This heliocentric system seemed to create uncertainty about the human role in the universe as well as God's location. Protestant reformers, adhering to a literal interpretation of Scripture, were the first to attack the new ideas. The Catholic Church remained silent for the time being; it did not denounce Copernicus until the work of Galileo appeared.
This map shows Europe at the time of the Scientific Revolution and displays the leading academic centers and observatories of the time. As you can see, these were located usually in major cities, near centers of education, namely universities. It also shows where some of the major thinkers, philosophers, and scientists were from and where they worked. Overall, I think this map demonstrates how the Scientific Revolution truly spanned the continent and how there were places of discoveries all over Europe, from Great Britain to France to Italy and to Scandinavia. Also note where it did not happen for the most part; Eastern Europe and Russia.
The Scientific Revolution and the Emergence of Modern Science
Big Ideas
Essential Questions
Primary Sources
Written http://www.historyteacher.net/APEuroCourse/DocPackets/DocPkt-ScientificRevolution-2.pdf Document 3Sir Isaac Newton, “Principles of Analysis,” from Optics, 1704
This document, written by Newton, demonstrates his belief in a higher power. In other words, it shows that he most definitely believed in God, not at all losing his faith in religion. Moreover, this document proves that many of the great thinkers, philosophers, and scientists of the time who made incredible discoveries about the universe continued their religious practices, although it is often thought otherwise since during this time the Catholic Church sought to debunk many of these men's discoveries and claims, as they did not line up with the Church's interpretation of the Bible and its overall beliefs about the universe.
Visual http://historiesofcatastrophicdreaming.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/copernican-universe.jpg
On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres, 1543
The Copernican system was presented in On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres, published shortly before Copernicus's death. As shown in this image from the book, Copernicus maintained that the sun was the center of the universe and that the planets, including the earth, revolved around it. Moreover, the earth rotated daily on its axis. This heliocentric system seemed to create uncertainty about the human role in the universe as well as God's location. Protestant reformers, adhering to a literal interpretation of Scripture, were the first to attack the new ideas. The Catholic Church remained silent for the time being; it did not denounce Copernicus until the work of Galileo appeared.
Map http://occawlonline.pearsoned.com/bookbind/pubbooks/brummettconcise/chapter98/medialib/thumbs/ch21_397.html
This map shows Europe at the time of the Scientific Revolution and displays the leading academic centers and observatories of the time. As you can see, these were located usually in major cities, near centers of education, namely universities. It also shows where some of the major thinkers, philosophers, and scientists were from and where they worked. Overall, I think this map demonstrates how the Scientific Revolution truly spanned the continent and how there were places of discoveries all over Europe, from Great Britain to France to Italy and to Scandinavia. Also note where it did not happen for the most part; Eastern Europe and Russia.
Terms
Assessment
Answer Key
Newton's Page
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